Seating and/or reclining furniture for use outdoors or in wet areas, especially lounger or the like

ABSTRACT

Seating and/or reclining furniture for use outdoors or in wet areas, especially a lounger or the like, includes moisture-resistant base having at least two relatively adjustable supporting elements. Seating/reclining furniture supports a person resting on the furniture, and increases user comfort. At least one electromechanical drive device is provided for adjusting the supporting elements relative to each other. Thus, the adjustment of the supporting elements can be performed by motor-driven device, thus eliminating need for manual adjustment, and increasing user comfort. A special advantage of the seating and/or reclining furniture is that adjustment can be performed while a person is resting on the item of furniture, and in terms of its electromechanical adjustment, furniture has a functionality that has so far been known only for electromechanically adjustable slatted frames (which owing to their configuration, however, are unsuitable for use outdoors or in wet areas).

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of application no. PCT/EP2005/005467,filed May 20, 2005, which claims the priority of German application no.20 2004 011 096.2, filed 14 Jul. 2004, and each of which is incorporatedherein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to seating and/or reclining furniture Seatingand/or reclining furniture for use outdoors or in wet areas, especiallya lounger or the like. More particularly, the invention relates to suchseating and/or reclining furniture including a moisture-resistant basewhich includes at least two supporting elements, which can be adjustedin relation to each other and support a person resting on the item offurniture.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

These types of seating and/or reclining furniture are generally known,in the form of loungers and garden chairs, for example, or in the formof loungers that can be used in wet areas, such as swimming pools orwellness areas. In accordance with their use outdoors or in wet areas,known seating and/or reclining furniture include a moisture-resistantbase, which generally predominantly includes plastic, and at least twosupporting elements, which can be adjusted in relation to each other andsupport a person resting on the item of furniture.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to specify a seating and/or recliningfurniture of the type for use outdoors or in wet areas, especially alounger or the like, such seating and/or reclining furniture including amoisture-resistant base which includes at least two supporting elements,which can be adjusted in relation to each other, which support a personresting on the item of furniture, and which increase the comfort of theuser.

This object is achieved by the teachings set forth below, and in theclaims.

According to the invention, at least one electromechanical drive deviceis provided for adjusting the supporting elements in relation to eachother. In this manner, the adjustment of the supporting elements can beperformed by a motor-driven device, so that manual adjustment is nolonger required, and comfort for the user is thereby substantiallyincreased. A special advantage of the seating and/or reclining furnitureaccording to the invention includes the fact that the adjustment can beperformed while a person is resting on the item of furniture. It istherefore no longer necessary to stand up from the item of furniture toadjust the supporting elements. Comfort for the user is substantiallyincreased in this manner also.

The seating and/or reclining furniture, in terms of itselectromechanical adjustment, has a functionality that has so far beenknown only for electromechanically adjustable slatted frames which, dueto their design however, are not suitable for use outdoors or in wetareas.

The seating and/or reclining furniture according to the invention can beembodied in any suitable manner, such as a garden chair for example.Preferably, the seating and/or reclining furniture is embodied as alounger, however.

In principle, the base can include any desired moisture-resistantmaterial. An advantageous further development of the teaching accordingto the invention provides for the base to substantially include plastic.In this embodiment, the base includes a particularly moisture-resistantand weather-resistant material, and is furthermore particularlyinexpensive to manufacture. Within the meaning of the invention, thebase then is substantially plastic if the main components of the bodyinclude plastic while the adjusting armatures, for example, may includemetal.

An exceptionally advantageous further embodiment of the teachingaccording to the invention provides that the drive device and/or acontrol device of the drive device are accommodated in a housing that issealed against the penetration of moisture. In this embodiment, thedrive device and/or control device are protected from moisture and fromweathering effects in a particularly reliable fashion.

Another advantageous further development of the teaching according tothe invention provides that at least one member of the base is embodiedas a hollow profile. In this embodiment, the base features particularlylow weight.

One particularly advantageous further development of the twoabovementioned embodiments provides that the housing is at leastpartially formed by a hollow member of the base. In this embodiment, thedrive device and/or the control device are accommodated in a hollowmember of the base, so that a separate housing for accommodating thedrive device and/or control device is not required.

Another advantageous further development of the teaching according tothe invention provides that the electromechanical drive device is atleast partially accommodated in a hollow member. In this embodiment, theentire electromechanical drive device can be accommodated in the hollowmember in the manner known from DE 199 62 541 A1 for adjustable slattedframes of beds. But it is also possible to accommodate only one part ofthe drive device, such as a spindle drive device as a linear drivedevice as well as a gear, in the hollow member, while arranging theelectric motor outside the hollow member and drivably connecting it tothe parts accommodated in the hollow member.

The base advantageously includes a frame for placing the furniture onthe ground.

The base of the seating and/or reclining furniture according to theinvention can be embodied in any desired suitable manner. Anadvantageous further development provides that the base includes astationary center supporting element, one end of which is connected,pivotably attached around a substantially horizontal pivot axis, to aleg supporting element, and the other end of which is connected,pivotably attached around a substantially horizontal pivot axis, to anupper body supporting element.

A further development of the abovementioned embodiment provides that ahead supporting element is connected, pivotably attached around asubstantially horizontal pivot axis, to the end of the upper bodysupporting element opposite the center supporting element.

Another further development provides that a calf supporting element isconnected, pivotably attached around a substantially horizontal pivotaxis, to the end of the leg supporting element opposite the centersupporting element.

Corresponding to the respective requirements, it is possible accordingto the invention, that a common electromechanical drive device isassigned to the leg supporting element and the upper body supportingelement for adjusting the same or that one electromechanical drivedevice each is assigned to the leg supporting element and to the upperbody supporting element for adjusting the same.

The invention will be explained in more detail below based on theenclosed strongly schematized drawing, which illustrates exemplaryembodiments according to the invention of a seating and/or recliningfurniture in the form of a lounger.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first exemplary embodiment of aseating and/or reclining furniture according to the invention in theform of a lounger in a first adjustment position of the leg supportingelement and of the upper body supporting element;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the lounger according to FIG. 1 in asecond adjustment position of the leg supporting element;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the lounger according to FIG. 1 in asecond adjustment position of the upper body supporting element;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a second exemplary embodiment of aseating and/or reclining furniture according to the invention, shown ina manner similar to FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a third exemplary embodiment of aseating and/or reclining furniture according to the invention, shown ina manner similar to FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a fourth exemplary embodiment of aseating and/or reclining furniture according to the invention, shown ina manner similar to FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a fifth exemplary embodiment of aseating and/or reclining furniture according to the invention, shown ina manner similar to FIG. 1; and

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a sixth exemplary embodiment of aseating and/or reclining furniture according to the invention shown in amanner similar to FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the figures of the drawing, the same or corresponding components havebeen provided with the same reference numerals.

FIG. 1 depicts a first exemplary embodiment according to the inventionof a seating and/or reclining furniture that can be used outdoors or inwet areas in the form of a lounger 2, which includes amoisture-resistant base 4, which in this exemplary embodimentsubstantially includes plastic. The base includes a frame for placingthe base 4 on the ground, wherein in this exemplary embodiment the frame6 includes legs, only one of which has been provided with a referencenumeral in FIG. 1.

In this exemplary embodiment, the base includes a stationary centersupporting element 10, which is connected to the legs 8 and one end ofwhich is connected, pivotably attached around a horizontal pivot axis12, to a leg supporting element 14, said end lying in the longitudinaldirection of the lounger 2. An upper body supporting element 18 isconnected, pivotably attached around a horizontal pivot axis 16, to theend of the center supporting element 10 opposite the leg supportingelement 14. A calf supporting element 22 is connected, pivotablyattached around a horizontal pivot axis 20, to the end of the legsupporting element 14 opposite the center supporting element 10, while ahead supporting element 26 is connected, pivotably attached around ahorizontal pivot axis 24, to the end of the upper body supportingelement 18 opposite the center supporting element 10.

An electromechanical drive device, which is not illustrated in detail inthe drawing, is provided to adjust the supporting elements 14, 18, 22,26 in relation to the center supporting element 10. In this exemplaryembodiment the electromechanical drive device is accommodated togetherwith a control device within a longitudinal member 28 embodied as ahollow profile and is drive device-connected to the supporting elements14, 18, 22, 26 via a suitable adjustment mechanism. The adjustmentmechanism and the accommodation of the electromechanical drive device inthe hollow longitudinal member 28 can be embodied in the manner knownfrom DE 199 62 541 A1, whose content is hereby incorporated into thepresent application by means of reference.

The electromechanical drive device is operated using a manual operatingdevice, which is connected to the control device and is not illustratedin the drawing.

Because of the electromechanical drive device, the lounger 2 accordingto the invention, in terms of the adjustability of the supportingelements 14, 18, 22, 26 in relation to the center supporting element 10,has a functionality that has so far been known only for adjustableslatted frames. In particular, the supporting elements 14, 18, 22, 26can be adjusted under the load of a person resting on the lounger 2. Theadjustment of the supporting elements 14, 18, 22, 26 thus does notrequire that the person rise from the lounger 2. In addition, theadjustment is achieved in a comfortable and energy-saving manner.

In principle, it suffices to provide a single electromechanical drivedevice for adjustment of the supporting elements 14, 18, 22, 26. But itis however also possible to assign a first electromechanical drivedevice to the leg supporting element 14 and the calf supporting element22, for example, while assigning a second electromechanical drive deviceto the upper body supporting element 18 and the head supporting element26.

Due to the complete fitting arrangement of the electromechanical drivedevice within the hollow longitudinal member 28, the electromechanicaldrive device does not require a separate housing. Rather, the hollowlongitudinal member 28 forms the housing. But it is also possibleaccording to the invention to arrange the electromechanical drive devicecompletely or at least partially outside of the base 4. In particular, aspindle drive device of the electromechanical drive device can beaccommodated in the longitudinal member 28, for example, while theelectric motor is arranged outside the longitudinal member 28 and drivedevice-connected to the spindle drive device via a gear.

FIG. 2 shows the lounger according to FIG. 1 in an adjustment positionin which the upper leg supporting element 14 and the calf supportingelement 22 are lowered in relation to the center supporting member 10.

FIG. 3 shows the lounger according to FIG. 1 in an adjustment positionin which the upper body supporting element 16 and the head supportingelement 26 are lowered in relation to the center supporting member 10.

FIG. 4 represents a second exemplary embodiment of a lounger 2 accordingto the invention which substantially differs from the exemplaryembodiment according to FIG. 1 in that the end of the frame 6 lying inthe longitudinal direction is provided with rollers 30 to facilitatedisplacement of the lounger 2.

FIG. 5 represents a third exemplary embodiment of a lounger 2 accordingto the invention which substantially differs from the exemplaryembodiment according to FIG. 3 in that armrests 23 are provided.Operational controls for operating the electromechanical drive device orelectromechanical drive devices can be integrated into the armrest inthe form of push buttons 34 for example.

FIG. 6 depicts a fourth exemplary embodiment of a lounger according tothe invention which substantially differs from the exemplary embodimentaccording to FIG. 3 in that armrests 36 are provided which, in thelongitudinal direction of the lounger 2, substantially extend across theentire length of the center supporting member 10.

FIG. 7 depicts a fifth exemplary embodiment of a lounger 2 according tothe invention which substantially differs from the exemplary embodimentaccording to FIG. 3 in that armrests 32 are provided.

FIG. 8 depicts a sixth exemplary embodiment of a lounger according tothe invention which substantially differs from the exemplary embodimentaccording to FIG. 6 in that the frame includes two rockers 38, 40, whichare substantially U-shaped in side view.

While this invention has been described as having a preferred design, itis understood that it is capable of further modifications, and usesand/or adaptations of the invention and following in general theprinciple of the invention and including such departures from thepresent disclosure as come within the known or customary practice in theart to which the invention pertains, and as may be applied to thecentral features hereinbefore set forth, and fall within the scope ofthe invention or limits of the claims appended hereto.

1. Seating and/or reclining furniture for use outdoors or in wet areas,comprising: a) a moisture-resistant base; b) the moisture-resistant baseincluding at least two supporting elements, the at least two supportingelements being adjustable relative to each other, and being configuredfor supporting a person resting on the item of furniture, in use; and c)at least one electromechanical drive device for adjusting the at leasttwo supporting elements relative to each other.
 2. Seating and/orreclining furniture according to claim 1, wherein: a) the base issubstantially plastic.
 3. Seating and/or reclining furniture accordingto claim 1, wherein: a) a housing that is sealed against the penetrationof moisture is provided; and b) one of the drive device and a controldevice of the drive device is accommodated in the housing.
 4. Seatingand/or reclining furniture according to claim 1, wherein: a) the baseincludes at least one member, and at least one of the at least onemember is configured as a hollow profile.
 5. Seating and/or recliningfurniture according to claim 3, wherein: a) the housing is at leastpartially formed by a hollow member of the base.
 6. Seating and/orreclining furniture according to claim 4, wherein: a) theelectromechanical drive device is at least partially accommodated in ahollow member.
 7. Seating and/or reclining furniture according to claim1, wherein: a) the base includes a frame configured for placing thefurniture on the ground, in use.
 8. Seating and/or reclining furnitureaccording to claim 1, wherein: a) the base includes a stationary centersupporting element, one end of which stationary center supportingelement is connected, pivotably attached around a substantiallyhorizontal pivot axis, to a leg supporting element, and the other end ofwhich stationary center supporting element is connected, pivotablyattached around a substantially horizontal pivot axis, to an upper bodysupporting element.
 9. Seating and/or reclining furniture according toclaim 8, wherein: a) a head supporting element is connected, pivotablyattached around a substantially horizontal pivot axis, to the end of theupper body supporting element opposite the center supporting element.10. Seating and/or reclining furniture according claim 8, wherein: a) acalf supporting element is connected, pivotably attached around asubstantially horizontal pivot axis, to the end of the leg supportingelement opposite the center supporting element.
 11. Seating and/orreclining furniture according to claim 8, wherein: a) a commonelectromechanical drive device is assigned to the leg supporting elementand the upper body supporting element for adjusting the same. 12.Seating and/or reclining furniture according to claim 8, wherein: a) oneelectromechanical drive device each is assigned to each of the legsupporting element and to the upper body supporting element foradjusting same.
 13. Seating and/or reclining furniture according toclaim 1, wherein: a) the seating and/or reclining furniture includes alounger.